Heads Up: Another Uzbek National Sentenced for Fighting in Ukraine
In a recent ruling, an Uzbek court sentenced a local man to four years and two months of restricted freedom for serving in the Ukrainian conflict with the Russian military. The verdict, based on the Uzbekistan‘s Criminal Code which forbids its citizens from joining foreign armed forces, adds to a growing list of similar convictions in the country.
The 39-year-old defendant, who chose to remain unnamed, signed a contract with Russia‘s Ministry of Defense in June 2023, lured by the promise of lucrative "combat" pay in search of seasonal work in Moscow. However, he received only two installments of 150,000 rubles (around $1,700) out of the promised 450,000 rubles ($5,100) per month.
During his stint, the man saw action in the Ukrainian towns of Shakhtarsk and Bahmut, allegedly claiming to have killed over 10 Ukrainian soldiers. His "active participation" led him to be transferred to a Russian reconnaissance unit, where he fought in Luhansk for five months. He returned to Uzbekistan in December 2023 and surrendered to authorities.
Expressing remorse at his sentencing, the defendant attributed his actions to pressing financial needs, being the sole breadwinner for his family. The court acknowledged his confession as a mitigating factor.
This is not an isolated case. In December 2024, a 22-year-old resident from Uzbekistan’s Koshtepin district was sentenced to five years probation for his involvement in the Ukraine conflict as a mercenary. Earlier cases saw an Uzbek national serving in the Wagner mercenary group receive four years of restricted freedom, and another citizen given a three-year prison sentence for fighting on Russia’s side in Ukraine.
